Since June 15, when first diagnosed with A-Fib and put on Coumadin, my husband has had pericarditis, pericarditis tamponade (life-threatening resolved with peracentesis), and now constrictive pericarditis. He's on colchicine and high doses of ibupropine. His cardiologist wants to give the medicine a chance to work, another 8-12 weeks while monitoring his symptoms of edema, SOB (shortness of breath), and fatigue. He wants to avoid surgery if at all possible as he is 68. Does this seem like a reasonable approach? I would love to hear from anyone whose medicine regimen "broke up" the hard materials now surrounding his heart. Also, we are located near a reputable teaching hospital but only one surgeon has ever done pericardectomy. I'm concerned about his traveling to the Cleveland Clinic although I also want him to have the best possible surgeon. I welcome any comments. Thank you.

The cardiologist sounds like he is taking a cautious approach with your husband's treatment after his pericardial tamponade. He was very lucky to be in the right place when his heart developed this problem.

How far are you from Cleveland Clinic - you could travel there for a consult if you feel it would help you know you are making the right decisions ?

I know you must be frightened dealing with this and please know that I am here for you.

Thank you Kitt. The worse part of waiting and being patient. However, there is an analogy with my efforts at weight loss, as a recurrent member of Weight Watchers. It took a long time to gain my excess weight and will take patience and a long time to get it all off. I'm grateful to have the summer off to keep a very close eye on my husband's care as I'm a teacher. It is just so hard to understand as he was so healthy up until June 15th and to have so much happen in such a short time is difficult.